Genre City Review: Spring’s Renewal
Title: Spring’s Renewal (Seasons of Sugarcreek, Book 2)
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Avon Inspire
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Date: April 2010
ISBN: 978-0061852367
Reviewed by: Laura Hilton
Clara is resigned to stay home and care for her demanding and ailing mother, but dreams of someone loving her for herself.
When Clara Slabaugh, an Amish schoolteacher, was five years old, she was severely burned in a kitchen fire. Now her mother tells her that no one will have her, since she is deformed. Clara is resigned to stay home and care for her demanding and ailing mother, but dreams of someone loving her for herself.
Tim Graber came to Sugarcreek as a favor to his aunt and uncle who needed help on the farm. He intends to marry his sweetheart back home, but when he meets Clara, he is torn and confused about his feelings.
Clara’s scars mean nothing to Tim. He is charmed by her quiet nature and loving ways, but then tragedy strikes. What will it take for Tim and Clara to admit their love for each other despite their differences?
Readers will want to read these books in order. While the main romances stand alone, readers will need to start at the beginning to have any idea what is happening in the underlying story. Spring’s Renewal is the second book in the Seasons of Sugarcreek series. I enjoyed reading the first book, Winter’s Awakening, though out of the two books, Spring’s Renewal is better.
I thoroughly enjoy reading Amish stories and understand why they are so wildly popular. The characters are well developed, and the story and plot lines excellently done. Discussion questions and a preview of Autumn’s Promise (August 2010) are included at the end of the book. If you like Amish fiction, don’t miss Spring’s Renewal.